The Alexa.com website appears to be live for some users. The browser-based home for Alexa Plus, the company’s revamped digital voice assistant, was first announced at the Alexa Plus launch event in February. But until recently, Alexa.com redirected to an information page. Now, some users, myself included, are seeing a new Alexa Plus web interface.
Today, when I typed Alexa.com into my web browser, it took me to a page that resembled the Alexa Plus chatbot in the Alexa app. (I was already logged in to my Amazon.com account.)
Many of these are things Alexa Plus can do on its Echo devices and in the app — only here you can interact more easily via a keyboard and a bigger screen.
I’ve not spent much time playing with the web interface, but I’m all for an easier way to interact with Alexa Plus and Alexa features when I don’t want to use voice. I can already see that it will be a big upgrade over using the app, which is still very clunky. I often used the previous Alexa web interface, which Amazon discontinued in 2022, and have missed its functionality (especially being able to bulk delete smart home devices).
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It’s clear that the web interface is a move to make Alexa Plus more integrated into its users’ daily workflows. Being able to control my smart home devices and add items to my shopping list with a couple of clicks at my desk will be useful.
But this is also Amazon’s first big move to make Alexa Plus an AI assistant you use everywhere, not just in the home. One that competes with ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. From what I’ve seen so far, it looks like a good start.
Access to Alexa.com appears to be in a limited rollout, and you need to have Alexa Plus, which is still in an early access program. It requires a Prime membership, and Amazon has said it will also be available via a $19.99-a-month subscription.
Screenshots by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge
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